Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to buy dancing shoes?

If this party is one of your first forays into the world of partner dancing you certainly do not need to buy special ballroom dancing shoes. You should wear comfortable shoes with leather or suede soles that stay on your feet well; shoes that lace up or have adjustable straps work very well. Sneakers, rubber-soled shoes (e.g. Doc Maarten's), and shoes that are too big are very difficult to dance in.

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Do I need to bring a partner?

You do not need to bring a partner to any Bethesda Dance Studio party or class. During the class, the instructor will have you rotate partners every few minutes so you will have the opportunity to dance with everyone in the class. Dancing with a variety of people is the best way to learn social dancing and is also a great way to meet people.

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Do we have to rotate?

Although we recommend rotating partners as it has been proven to help your dancing, rotating is not mandatory. You and your partner are free to stay with each other for the whole class; just be sure to stand slightly outside of the rotation so the people who are rotating will not be confused.

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Are there more women or men at these parties?

Although it's impossible to predict the ratio for any given party, generally there are roughly the same number of leaders and followers. If there are extra leaders (or followers), the extra leader (or follower) should stand between two couples in the rotation so when the instructor has the students rotate, the extra leader (or follower) will get a partner in the next rotation.

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What is the age range at the parties?

At the Bethesda Dance Studio, we have dancers of all ages from teenagers to people who are 70+. There are generally a large number of people in their thirties and forties. The dancers at the ballroom parties tend to be slightly older (in general) than the people at the Swing, Hustle, and Latin parties, where there are also a large number of people in their twenties. Everyone should feel welcome at all parties.

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Can I skip the lesson and just come to the party?

If you have never danced Swing (or Foxtrot, or Hustle, etc.), you should come to the lesson to learn the basic steps. This way, you will be able to dance with everyone at the party. You can, of course, dance freestyle to our music, but most people come to the Bethesda Dance Studio parties to dance the specific dances with a partner. Unfortunately, partner dancing looks easier than it is, and you really need a bit of professional instruction in order to feel comfortable on the dance floor.

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Can I join in a lesson late?

You should definitely join right in. The instructor will teach the remaining steps from scratch, and you will probably be able to pick up any steps you've missed from watching the other dancers and the instructor's review.

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Should I take private or group classes?

We recommend both. Private lessons will provide you with individualized instruction and work on your technique, your leading (or following), and any specific difficulties you may be having. Private lessons are essential if you are interested in becoming a serious dancer.

Group classes are a great way to practice the steps until they become ingrained in your "muscle memory". Group classes also provide you with a great opportunity to practice dancing with a variety of partners and to meet new people and potential dance partners

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How will I know what dances to work on in my private lessons?

You will work out a plan with your individual instructor. You may prefer to concentrate on one individual dance, or you may prefer to get a general overview of all the dances. Your dance plan is flexible; you can start out focusing on one dance and then decide you'd rather have a bit more variety. All our instructors are qualified to teach you all the dances.

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Do I need a partner to compete in Ballroom Dancing?

You don't need a partner to dance in any competition. You can enter in the Pro-Am (Professional-Amateur) division and dance with your teacher.

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